Abstract.
Telomeres are specialized structures at chromosome ends that are thought to function as buffers against chromosome fusion. Several studies suggest that telomere shortening may render chromosomes fusigenic. We used a novel quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization procedure to estimate telomere length in individual mammalian chromosomes, and G-banding and chromosome painting techniques to determine chromosome fusigenic potential. All analysed Chinese hamster and mouse cell lines exhibited shorter telomeres at short chromosome arms than at long chromosome arms. However, no clear link between short telomeres and chromosome fusigenic potential was observed, i.e. frequencies of telomeric associations were higher in cell lines exhibiting longer telomeres. We speculate that chromosome fusigenic potential in mammalian cell lines may be determined not only by telomere length but also by the status of telomere chromatin structure. This is supported by the observed presence of chromatin filaments linking telomeres in Chinese hamster chromosomes and of multibranched chromosomes oriented end-to-end in the murine severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) cell line. Multibranched chromosomes are the hallmark of the human ICF (Immune deficiency, Centromeric instability, Facial abnormalities) syndrome, characterized by alterations in heterochromatin structure.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 13 June 1997; in revised form: 3 August 1997 / Accepted: 4 August 1997
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Slijepcevic, P., Hande, M., Bouffler, S. et al. Telomere length, chromatin structure and chromosome fusigenic potential. Chromosoma 106, 413–421 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004120050263
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004120050263